One of my favorite parts of summer is how it naturally invites creativity. There are slower mornings, longer afternoons, and just enough unstructured time for little imaginations to take over. Of course, that also means there are plenty of moments when someone inevitably wanders into the room announcing, “I’m boooored.”
I’ve learned that I don’t need elaborate Pinterest-worthy projects or expensive craft kits to keep my daughter entertained. In fact, some of our favorite afternoons have come from using things we already had around the house. A little paint, a cardboard tube, some paper, and suddenly we’re creating masterpieces together.
The best part? These crafts aren’t really about the finished project. They’re about spending time together, letting kids explore their creativity, and giving their hands something fun to do. Some projects are wonderfully simple while others take a little more patience (from both kids and adults!). And as a bonus, with it being summer, you can make most of these creations outside so the clean up is minimal and not as stressful.
To make it fun, I decided to rate each craft using my official Sun Scale:
☀️ = Super easy
☀️☀️ = Easy with a little help
☀️☀️☀️ = Moderate
☀️☀️☀️☀️ = More involved
☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ = Adventure-level crafting!
1. Painted Rocks
Difficulty: ☀️
This one has become a summer tradition at our house. Every walk suddenly turns into a treasure hunt as we’re searching for the perfect smooth rocks.
Once we get home, we spread out newspaper, grab some acrylic paints, and let creativity take over. We’ve painted ladybugs, strawberries, rainbows, flowers, silly faces, and even tiny houses. Sometimes we write encouraging words on them before hiding them around the neighborhood for someone else to find.
There’s something so satisfying about turning an ordinary rock into something colorful.
You’ll need:
- Smooth rocks
- Acrylic paint
- Paint brushes
- Optional clear sealer if you’d like them to last outdoors
Joanna Gott
2. Toilet Paper Roll Creatures
Difficulty: ☀️☀️
I have learned never to throw away an empty toilet paper roll because somehow they always become the foundation for a craft.
We’ve turned ours into butterflies, binoculars for backyard adventures, little owls, rockets, flowers, and even a tiny castle. Add construction paper, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, or whatever odds and ends you have in your craft drawer, and kids will often come up with creations you never would have imagined.
It’s one of those crafts where perfection isn’t the goal. The sillier, the better.
You’ll need:
- Empty toilet paper rolls
- Construction paper
- Glue
- Scissors
- Markers or paint
- Googly eyes (always a favorite!)
Joanna Gott
3. Homemade Kites
Difficulty: ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
This one takes a little more time, but it’s worth every minute.
Making the kite is only half the fun. The real excitement comes afterward when you head outside to see if it actually flies. There’s usually plenty of laughter involved, a few adjustments, and lots of running across the yard.
We’ve made simple kites using fabric, wooden dowels, ribbon, and string. There are lots of great tutorials online to follow, or you can buy a cheap plastic kite to use as a template. In the end, even if they aren’t perfectly aerodynamic, kids don’t seem to mind. There’s something magical about watching something you made yourself catch the wind.
It’s the kind of project that easily turns into an entire afternoon.
You’ll need:
- Cotton fabric
- Wooden dowels
- String
- Ribbon for the tail
- Fabric glue or hot glue
- Markers or paint for decorating
Joanna Gott
4. Nature Collages
Difficulty: ☀️☀️
Sometimes the best craft supply store is your own backyard.
Go on a short nature walk and collect leaves, flowers, pinecones, twigs, feathers, or interesting grasses. Once you’re home, spread everything out on a piece of cardstock and let kids arrange their own masterpiece.
Some create flowers. Others build little woodland scenes or abstract works of art. There isn’t a wrong way to do it.
I love this craft because it encourages kids to slow down and notice the little details outside that we often walk right past.
You’ll need:
- Cardstock or heavy paper
- Glue
- Leaves
- Flowers
- Twigs
- Anything nature provides!
Joanna Gott
5. Paper Bag Animal Puppets
Difficulty: ☀️☀️☀️
Craft time often turns into pretend play around here, so masks are always a hit.
Start with a brown paper lunch bag and let your child decide what they’d like to become. Maybe it’s a lion with a yarn mane, a bunny with floppy ears, a butterfly, a dinosaur, or even a silly monster.
Before long, your living room becomes a jungle, zoo, or magical kingdom of puppets that will lead to hours of additional play.
I love projects that continue long after the glue has dried.
You’ll need:
- Brown paper lunch bags
- Paint or markers
- Construction paper
- Yarn, feathers, or pom-poms
- Glue
- Craft sticks or elastic
Joanna Gott
A Few Thoughts Before You Get Started
If I’ve learned anything as a mom, it’s that crafts don’t have to be perfect to be meaningful.
Sometimes the paint ends up everywhere except the paper. Sometimes the glue bottle gets squeezed a little too enthusiastically. Sometimes the finished project looks nothing like what you originally imagined.
And honestly? Those are usually the crafts we remember the most.
I’ve also realized that kids don’t necessarily remember what they made nearly as much as they remember who sat beside them while they made it. Those conversations that happen while coloring or painting often become some of my favorite parts of the day.
So if you’re looking for a simple way to fill a summer afternoon, pull out the craft supplies, and embrace the mess. You don’t need fancy materials or artistic talent—just a willingness to create together.
Who knows? You might even find yourself having just as much fun as your kids.
PIN THIS!
Read more of Joanna’s contributions to AllMomDoes here.
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